Punch gun



Dec. 3, 1957 s. M HALL 2,815,212

l PUNCH GUN Filed March 6, 1956 INV EN TOR.

ATTE RN EYB United States Patent j" PUNCH GUN Samuel M. Hall, Dallas, Tex. Application March 6, 1956, Serial No. 569,777

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-69) This invention relates to an amusement device, and more particularly to a punch gun or cue stick.

The object of the invention is to provide a punch gun which includes a trigger mechanism that can be manually actuated to propel a cue stick or rod whereby billiards or other balls can be readily propelled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a punch gun for use with small billiard tables or the like in homes or other localities so that the balls can be propelled by actuating the gun whereby the users will be provided with a source yof amusement and recreation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a punch gun which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts 'throughout the same.

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional View taken through the punch gun, showing the plunger in retracted position.

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1, -but showing the plunger in extended position.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line`3-3 `of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral designates each of a pair of similar sections which are secured together in any suitable manner, as for example, by means of securing elements 11. The pair of sections 1t) cooperate to dene a handle 12 and a barrel 14, and the handle 12 and barrel 14 are hollow. The front of the barrel 14 is provided with an opening 13 for a purpose to be later described.

Secured within the handle 12 is an L-shaped bracket 15 which carries an adjustable screw or bolt 16, and the bolt 16 engages a spring member 17 which has its lower end secured to the handle 12 through the medium of a rivet or other securing element 18. The upper end of free end of the spring member 17 engages a plunger 19, and the plunger 19 is provided with a pair of diametrical- 1y opposed grooves or recesses 20 which have projecting therein, a pair of diametrically opposed lips or tongues 21.

Depending from the plunger 19 and secured thereto or formed integral therewith, is a bar 22 which is provided with a plurality of teeth 23. A linger piece 24 extends through a slot 25 in the bottom of the barrel 14, and the linger piece 24 is provided with a shoulder 26 for retaining the finger piece 24 connected to the barrel 14. The finger piece 24 includes a pointed end 27 which is adapted to selectively engage the teeth 23 as when the plunger 19 is to be retracted or moved backward from the position shown in Figure 2 to the cocked position A 2,815,212 Patented Dec. 3, 1957 shown in Figure l. Thus, during the cocking of the plunger, the finger piece 24 can move from the solid line position shown in Figure l to the dotted line position of Figure 1. A spring member 28 is secured to the finger piece 24 through the medium of a suitable securing element 29.

There is further provided a trigger 30 which is pivoted to the device through the medium of a pin 35, and the trigger 30 has a coil spring 31 connected thereto, Figures 1 and 2. A link 32 has one end pivotally connected to the trigger 30, while the other end of the link 32 is pivotally connected to a latch or keeper 33, the keeper 33 being pivotally connected in the barrel 14 through the medium of a pin 34. The keeper 33 includes a pointed end 36 which engages the teeth 23.

Depending from the front end of the bar 22 is a liange or lug 37 which is adapted to engage the bumper 38 that is mounted in the front of the barrel 14.

Mounted on the front of the plunger 19 is a bushing 39 which includes a cylindrical collar 40 and the bushing 39 is provided with a plurality of cutouts or slits 41. The bushing 39 further includes an exteriorly threaded portion 42, and the cutouts 41 define therebetween spring fingers 43. A rod or stick 45 is detachably seated in the bushing 39, and the rod 45 is provided with a cue tip 46 on itsouter end for engagement with a ball or the like.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a punch gun or billiard cue stick which is especially suitable for use in propelling billiard balls or the like along small .game tables in a persons home or the like. In use, the finger piece 24 can be manipulated by the persons finger so that the pointed end 27 engages.

in the teeth 23 on the bar 22 whereby the finger piece 24 will move rearwardly from the solid line position shown in Figure l to the dotted line position in Figure l. The finger piece 24 can move through the slot 25 in the bottom of the barrel 14, and the shoulders 26 serve to insure that the finger piece 24 will be maintained in the barrel 14. As the finger piece 24 moves backward with the pointed end 27 engaging the teeth 23, the plunger 19 will be retracted or withdrawn or moved from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 1, and when manual pressure is released on the finger piece 24, the spring member 2S will release the pointed end 27 from the teeth 23 so that the finger piece 24 will not interfere with forward movement of the plunger 19. The pointed end 36 of the keeper 33 normally engages the teeth 23 so as to maintain or retain the plunger 19 in its retracted position. However, when it is desired to release the plunger 19, the trigger 30 is engaged by the fingers and pivoted about the pin 35 and this pivotal movement of the trigger 313 causes forward movement of the link 32 which in turn results in pivotal movement of the keeper 33 about the pin 34. As the keeper 33 pivots, the pointed end 36 of the keeper 33 will move out of engagement with the teeth 23 so that the spring member 17 can propel the plunger 19 forwardly. As the plunger 19 moves forwardly it carries the rod 45 forwardly since the rod 45 is coupled to the front end of the plunger 19 through the medium of the bushing 39 and collar 44, The tip 46 on the front end of the rod 45 strikes the ball and propels it in the desired direction. The body screw 16 can be adjusted so as to control movement of the spring member 17, and the coil spring 31 serves to maintain the proper tension on the trigger 30. The tongues 21 which project into the opposed grooves 20 in the sides of the plunger 19 serves to insure that the plunger 19 and its associated parts will be maintained in their proper position as they reciprocate or move back and forth. The collar 44 can be tightened on the threaded portion 42 of the bushing 39 in order to lock the stick 45 in the bushing. The bumper 38 may be made of a suitable yieldable material such as rubber so that when the lip 37 engages the bumper 38, the bumper will act as a shock absorber. The gun is adapted to be made of any suitable material and may be made in a small size so that it can be used on small tables in homes or the like.

The adjusting screw 16 serves to adjust the tension on the spring member 17. Thus, by screwing in on the member 16, tension on the spring member 17 can be increased, and when the screw 16 is screwed outwardly, tension on the member 17 is decreased. The nger piece 24 moves rearwardly in order to move the plunger 19 backwardly as when the plunger 19 is being cocked. When the user pulls back on the trigger 30, the trigger moves in the direction of the arrow and since the trigger 30 is pivoted on the pin 35, then it will be seen that this will result in forward movement of the brake 32. Since the keeper 33 is pivotally mounted on the pin 34, it will be seen that the end or tip 36 of the keeper 33 will move rearwardly to shift the plunger 19 rearwardly slightly whereby the plunger 19 can then snap forwardly. The cutouts 41 in the bushing 39 merely illustrate a conventional chuck mechanism wherein it will be seen that by screwing or rotating the collar or bushing 44, the spring fingers 43 can be compressed so as to frictionally engage the rod 4S.

I claim:

1. In a punch gun, a pair of similar sections coacting to define a hollow handle and a hollow barrel, an L- shaped bracket mounted in said handle, a securing element extending through said bracket, a spring member having a portion abutting said securing element and having its lower end secured within said handle, there being an opening in the front of said barrel, a plunger slidably mounted in said barrel and extending through said opening, said spring member engaging the rear of said plunger, a bar depending from the bottom of said plunger and provided with a plurality of teeth, the bottom of said barrel having a slot therein, a finger projecting through said slot and including an upper pointed end engaging said teeth, a spring member positioned in engagement with said finger piece, a pivotally mounted trigger positioned in said handle and embodying a curved nger engaging recess, a coil spring having one end connected to said trigger and its other end connected to said handle, a link projecting from said trigger and having one end connected thereto, and a keeper connected to the other end of said link and having a pointed end engaging said teeth.

2, In a punch gun, a pair of similar sections coacting to dene a hollow handle and a hollow barrel, an L- shaped bracket mounted in said handle, a securing element extending through said bracket, a spring member having a portion abutting said securing element and having its lower end secured within said handle, there being an opening in the front of said barrel, a plunger slidably mounted in said barrel and extending through said opening, said spring member engaging the rear of said plunger, a bar depending from the bottom of said plunger and provided with a plurality of teeth, the bottom of said barrel having a slot therein, a inger projecting through said slot and including an upper pointed end engaging said teeth, a spring member positioned in engagement with said nger piece, a pivotally mounted trigger positioned in said handle and embodying a curved nger engaging recess, a coil spring having one end connected to said trigger and its other end connected to said handle, a link projecting from said trigger and having one end connected thereto, and a keeper connected to the other end of said link and having a pointed end engaging said teeth, there being a pair of diametrically opposed grooves in said plunger, tongues projecting inwardly from said sections and engaging said grooves, a bumper secured in said barrel, a lip on said bar engaging said bumper, and shoulders on said finger piece for retaining said finger piece in said barrel.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 497,929 Shummaker May 23, 1893 1,157,909 Teague Oct. 26, 1915 1,596,084 Davidson Aug. 17, 1926 1,693,414 Tolliver Nov. 27, 1928 2,129,042 Anthony Sept. 6, 1938 

